Rope splicing fid

ABSTRACT

A fid for splicing rope, or line, as it is often called, comprises three parts. One part is a hollow tapered spike with a spade-shaped point to separate and spread apart the strands of the rope to be spliced. A removable stopper, or closure cap, the second part of the fid, seals the open end of the hollow spike, the hollow, sealed interior chamber affording positive buoyancy to the spike as well as providing a convenient storage receptacle for small articles, such as sailmakers&#39;&#39; needles, and the like. The third part of the fid is a detachable tubular handle, or sleeve, which fits on the after end of the spike so that as the spike emerges from the separated and spread-apart rope strands, and is detached from the sleeve, the sleeve remains in place between the opened strands and affords an unobstructed conduit for the introduction of a tuck strand through the opened rope strands.

United States Patent [191 McGrew ROPE SPLICING FID [76] Inventor: James D. McGrew, 555 Capitol Mall Suite 1015, Elverta, Calif. 95814 [22] Filed: Apr. 9, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 349,200

[52] U3. Cl. 57/23 [51 1 Int. (31 B65]! 69/06 [58] Field of search 57/22, 27

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 92,296 7/1869 Fisher 57/23 535,108 3/1895 Helgesson 57/27 563,155 6/1896 Fulson et al.v 57/23 759,717 5/1904 Kappler, Jr. 57/23 1,293,453 2/1919 Jacobson et al. 57/23 Primary Examiner-John Petrakes Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lothrop & West 51 July 16,1974

[5 7] ABSTRACT v detachable tubular handle, or sleeve, which tits on the after end of the spike so that as the spike emerges from the separated and spread-apart rope strands, and is detached from the sleeve, the sleeve remains in place between the opened strands and affords an unobstructed conduit for the introduction of a tuck strand through the opened rope strands.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures sum 2 or PATENTEU L 1 6 74 ROPE SPLICING FID BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Improvements to the traditional marlinspike, or fid, for splicing rope, are not unknown in the patent literature, exemplary being Jacobson et al., US. Pat. No. 1,293,453 and Borgelt, US. Pat. No. 2,390,505 and 2,417,055.

The nautical environment, however, in which fids are ordinarily used, often involving conditions of darkness, inclement weather and a pitching deck, makes it desirable that the fid consist of a minimum of separable parts which can get lost, that the spike be buoyant and that there be no laterally projecting hooks, rods or plates to complicate the structure. The prior art, so far as is known, affords room for improvement in this respect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to improvements in tools for splicing rope.

It is. an object of the invention to provide an efficient rope splicing fid in which the number of relatively movable parts required in the splicing operation is reduced to a minimum.

It is another object of the invention to provide a rope splicing fid in which the spike portion is unusually strong, yet buoyant.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a rope splicing tool which affords storage space forsmall articles, such as sailmakers needles, and the like.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a rope splicing tool which makes it easy to splice not only natural fiber ropes made of hemp, Manila hemp, sisal, jute, flax and cotton, but also to splice hard-to-handle wire ropes and synthetic fiber ropes without a riggers vise.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a rope splicing fid in which separation of the rope strands is readily effected but with a minimum of damage to the individual twisted and laid rope fibers and yarns.

It is another object of the invention to provide a rope splicing tool which is economical, compact and streamlined in overall configuration, being devoid of interfering lateral hooks and pins.

It is another object of the invention to provide a generally improved rope splicing fid.

Other objects, together with the foregoing, are attained in the embodiment described in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is an exploded perspective view, to a somewhat enlarged scale;

FIG. 2 is a median longitudinal sectional view, except in the vicinity of the spade point, which is shown in side elevation, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 2 2 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view, looking toward the spade point;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view, looking toward the flanged, annular hand grip; and,

FIG. 6 is an exploded view, to a reduced scale, showing the location of the parts just after the spike has emerged from the rope and is separated from the sleeve-handle, preparatory to inserting a tuck strand through the sleeve remaining in the rope.

While the rope splicing fid of the invention is susceptible of numerous physical embodiments, depending upon the environment and requirements of use, substantial numbers of the herein shown and described embodiment have been made, tested and used, and all have performed in an eminently satisfactory manner.

The rope splicing tool of the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 11, comprises a conically tapered spike 12, preferably formed of a durable, tough, non-corroding material such as high impact styrene. Where wire rope is to be spliced, a steel spike is preferably used.

The tapered, conical portion 13 of the spike 12 converges forwardly in a point 14 which is in the shape of a spade 16 so as to separate the rope strands 17 with a minimum of damage to the individual fibers 18, or yams.

As appears most clearly in FIG. .2, the spike 12 is hollow, being molded with a central interior chamber 21, or cavity. The chamber 21 affords a convenient receptacle for the storage of small articles, such as sailmakers needles, small lengths of waxed sail twine for whipping natural fiber rope ends or matches for fusing the ends of synthetic fiber rope to prevent unraveling. The interior chamber can, if desired, be made large enough to afford positive buoyancy to the spike so that the spike will float in water.

Additional storage space as well as buoyancy is provided by a hollow, right circular cylindrical guide shank 23 coaxially mounted on the after end of the spike on the longitudinal axis 24 of the fid. The shank 23 is somewhat smaller in diameter than the base 25 of the tapered conical portion 13 of the spike, an annular to form an annular shoulder 34 which seats against the beveled. upper annular end 36 of the hollow guide shank 23. The periphery of the shoulder 34 is also beveled, but in a reverse sense, '30 that no matter how tightly the cap 31 is lodged in place, a fingernail, knife, screwdriver, or other similar edge, can find a purchase with which to dislodge the cap. A moderate interference fit is provided between the cap disc 33 and the encompassing wall of the shank 23 so that the interior storage and buoyancy compartment 21 and its contents are protected against invasion by water, moisture, deleterious fumes, or the like, when the cap is in place.

The exterior walls of the guide shank 23 are slidably encompassed by a hollow handle 41, or sleeve, also preferably molded of high impact styrene, or equivalent. The periphery of the sleeve 41 is coincident with the periphery of the base 25 of the spike to afford a smooth transition.

The sleeve includes a central, axially elongated conduit 42 for the introduction of guidance therethrough of a tuck strand 43 of rope after the appropriate rope strands have been wedged apart by the spike and are held open by the sleeve 41, as shown in FIG. 6.

In order to provide a convenient hand hold for rotating the fid and a surface against which to push the fid when advancing the spike through the rope, the upper,

or after, end 46 of the handle 41. is enlarged so as to form an annular flange 47, or hand grip, with an upper bearing surface 48. The flange 47 also serves as a limit stop which prevents the fid from being pushed entirely through the rope.

The leading, or lower, end 49 of the sleeve 41 abuts the annular shoulder 26 around the base 25 of the conical portion of the spike. Thus, as force is brought to bear against the upper bearing surface 48, the forward, or downward, force is transmitted to the spike.

Rotational effort imposed on the annular handgrip 47 of the sleeve 41 is also transmitted to the spike by a pair of diametrically opposed lugs 51, or teeth, formed on the annular shoulder 26 at the junction of the tapered portion of the spike and the cylindrical guide shank.

A corresponding pair of recesses 53 engages the lugs 51 when the spike and the sleeve-like handle 41 are in fully coupled position, as appears most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 4. Thus, when the handle 41 is angularly rotated about the longitudinal axis 24 of the fid, the rotational force is imparted through the walls of the recesses 53 against the teeth in engagement therewith, thence to the spike.

The teeth 51 do not interfere, however, with longitudinal separation between the handle and the spike at the appropriate time.

Thus, in operating the tool, the spike and the handle are first coupled. The fid is thereupon oriented so that the space point 16 is inserted between the appropriate juxtaposed strands, or yarns, at the desired location. By a combination of translation and rotation, the spike is then pushed entirely through the rope strands, followed by the smooth transition to the equally dimensioned (in cross-section) sleeve 41. When the sleeve 41 reaches the position approximately as shown in FIG. 6, the spike 12 is removed, as indicated, and the tuck strand 43 is inserted through the sleeve 41 from the base end toward the top, or hand grip, end, the fid having initially been inserted appropriately into the rope to afford this desired orientation of the sleeve 41. The hand grip 47 is thereupon taken hold of and withdrawn until the sleeve 41 clears the rope. Concurrently, the free end of the tuck strand 43, which now protrudes through the rope in the opening previously provided by the sleeve, is grasped and pulled taut.

The sleeve handle and the spike can then be recoupled and the next strand-tucking cycle commenced.

I claim:

1. A rope splicing fid comprising:

a. an elongated, hollow, conically tapered spike ter minating at its forward end in a point to effect separation of the rope strands as the spike is urged through a rope to be spliced and terminating at its after end in a base having a predetermined diameter, said spike including an interior axial compartment open at said after end of said spike;

b. a hollow elongated, right circular cylindrical shank axially mounted on said after end of said spike, the diameter of said shank being less than said predetermined diameter of said spike base to define an annular shoulder on said after end of said spike, the hollow interior portion of said shank having a diameter substantially coincident with the diameter of said interior compartment in said spike and forming therewith a receptacle capable of storing small rope splicing accessories;

c. a hollow, elongated, right circular cylindrical handle translatably mounted on said shank for movement between a first coupled position in which the forward end of said handle abuts said annular shoulder and a second, uncoupled position wherein said handle is separated from said shank, the dimensions of said handle, said shank and said spike being such that said handle snugly encompasses said shank in said coupled position and said forward end of said handle substantially merges with said after end of said spike to afford a smooth transition as said spike is inserted through and emerges from the separated rope strands and is replaced by said handle, the hollow interior portion of said handle forming a complete conduit through the separated rope strands for the reception and guidance therethrough of a tuck strand of rope as said handle is separated from said spike and said shank;

d. an enlarged annular flange mounted coaxially on the after end of said handle to provide an enlarged hand grip and limit stop; and,

e. selectively separable means interconnecting said spike for positively transmitting torque therebetween to facilitate the insertion of said spike and said handle through the separated rope strands.

2. A rope splicing fid as in claim 1 wherein said torque transmitting means is a pair of lugs mounted on said annular shoulder, said lugs being selectively engageable with a corresponding pair of recesses in said forward end of said handle when said handle is in said first, coupled position.

3. A rope splicing fid as in claim 1 including a closure cap removably mounted on the after end of said shank to seal said receptacle within said spike and said shank to afford positive buoyancy to said fid and to enclose items stored in said receptacle.

4. A rope splicing fid as in claim 1 in which said point rope strands while minimizing rupture of the individual rope fibers. 

1. A rope splicing fid comprising: a. an elongated, hollow, conically tapered spike terminating at its forward end in a point to effect separation of the rope strands as the spike is urged through a rope to be spliced and terminating at its after end in a base having a predetermined diameter, said spike including an interior axial compartment open at said after end of said spike; b. a hollow elongated, right circular cylindrical shank axially mounted on said after end of said spike, the diameter of said shank being less than said predetermined diameter of said spike base to define an annular shoulder on said after end of said spike, the hollow interior portion of said shank having a diameter substantially coincident with the diameter of said interior compartment in said spike and forming therewith a receptacle capable of storing small rope splicing accessories; c. a hollow, elongated, right circular cylindrical handle translatably mounted on said shank for movement between a first coupled position in which the forward end of said handle abuts said annular shoulder and a second, uncoupled position wherein said handle is separated from said shank, the dimensions of said handle, said shank and said spike being such that said handle snugly encompasses said shank in said coupled position and said forward end of said handle substantially merges with said after end of said spike to afford a smooth transition as said spike is inserted through and emerges from the separated rope strands and is replaced by said handle, the hollow interior portion of said handle forming a complete conduit through the separated rope strands for the reception and guidance therethrough of a tuCk strand of rope as said handle is separated from said spike and said shank; d. an enlarged annular flange mounted coaxially on the after end of said handle to provide an enlarged hand grip and limit stop; and, e. selectively separable means interconnecting said spike for positively transmitting torque therebetween to facilitate the insertion of said spike and said handle through the separated rope strands.
 2. A rope splicing fid as in claim 1 wherein said torque transmitting means is a pair of lugs mounted on said annular shoulder, said lugs being selectively engageable with a corresponding pair of recesses in said forward end of said handle when said handle is in said first, coupled position.
 3. A rope splicing fid as in claim 1 including a closure cap removably mounted on the after end of said shank to seal said receptacle within said spike and said shank to afford positive buoyancy to said fid and to enclose items stored in said receptacle.
 4. A rope splicing fid as in claim 1 in which said point of said spike is spade-shaped to effect separation of the rope strands while minimizing rupture of the individual rope fibers. 